Wangen Tower

The Wangen Turm is an observation tower in Wangen im Allgäu, a town in the Westallgäu region of Baden-Württemberg. It stands in the meadows south of the old town, beside the Upper Argen river. The tower was built for the 2024 Landesgartenschau and has quickly become a local landmark. Architects Achim Menges and Jan Knippers designed it at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Computational Design and Construction and the Institute for Structural Design. It is the first full-scale structure made entirely of load-bearing, self-forming timber components. The tower rises 23 metres above the ground. Its outer shell uses twelve curved cross-laminated timber panels just 130 millimetres thick. The inward curve of each panel creates a shell that acts like corrugated metal, giving the tower its distinctive twisted shape and extra stiffness. The base covers 50 square metres and is built with recycled concrete and cement that lowers carbon emissions. Inside, a steel spiral staircase with 113 steps leads visitors to the viewing platform. From the top, visitors look out over the river meadows and the Allgäu hills. The design shows how timber can be shaped and joined without waste, setting a new standard for sustainable architecture. The tower’s light structure and open sides make the climb feel airy despite the height. It links the town’s modern identity with the surrounding landscape.